Continuing your care at home

Our care for you doesn’t end when you are discharged from the hospital. We remain committed to helping you maintain your health and comfort, and we are available to help you meet your ongoing care needs.

Before you begin your hospital stay, be sure that someone will be available to take you home by 11 a.m. on the day your physician approves your discharge. Before you leave, your nurse will review with you the physician’s discharge instructions and your discharge medications.

Clinical case managers, who are registered nurses or qualified social workers, may visit to coordinate special needs such as home-care services, equipment and transfers to other facilities.

If you have any questions or requests, call 916-734-7327 (4-7327 from a hospital phone). Your doctor or nurse also will explain to you the follow-up care you will require and how to obtain it.

Be sure to collect your personal belongings and any valuables you may have left in the hospital safe.

After you get home, you may be contacted by phone or mail and asked to complete a short survey about your hospital experience. Your satisfaction is important to us, and we value any information you can provide.

UC Davis Medical Center operates five outpatient pharmacies, one of which is open seven days a week including holidays. Although your prescriptions may be filled at the pharmacy of your choice, your nurse can make arrangements to have your discharge prescriptions filled at one of our on-site pharmacies so you can go home with your medications. Our outpatient pharmacy staff will work with your doctors and nurses to ensure that your prescriptions are ready prior to your discharge, and to resolve any insurance-related issues.

Please be prepared to present your prescription insurance information to pharmacy staff. You will be responsible for any co-payment, share of cost or other costs not covered by insurance. Your nurse will be able to assist with questions about our pharmacy services, and a pharmacist is always available if you have questions about your medications.

Discharge prescriptions are generally filled at the pavilion pharmacy located near the main hospital entrance. Other pharmacies are located at the Cypress Building, Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, Cancer Center and the Davis primary care office.

After you are discharged from the hospital, you may be referred to one of our specialty clinics for follow-up care. Your insurance plan requirements and other factors will influence whether you should pursue your appointment directly through UC Davis or through an external community health care provider. If you have questions, our Consumer Resource Center at 800-2-UCDAVIS (800-282-3284) can assist with information about eligibility and the referral process. If you schedule a follow-up visit at UC Davis, please bring your insurance cards to the appointment and be prepared to make co-payments.

If you need health services after returning home, your physician may arrange for care through UC Davis Home Health Services or an agency of your choice. Home Health Services offers skilled medical care in the comfort of the patient’s home. Team members collaborate with physicians to deliver the highest level of patient-centered care, and provide the knowledge and skills needed for maximum functioning and independence at home. Intravenous services are performed in collaboration with a community-based infusion therapy vendor.

UC Davis Hospice program provides end-of-life care for patients of all ages. Hospice is a philosophy of health care emphasizing symptom management while helping patients and families cope with suffering and grief. In hospice care, success is determined by defining goals of care that support the patient’s quality of life.

For more information, please call 916-734-2458 (4-2458 from a hospital phone).

Health education classes are available to UC Davis patients at various health system locations. Class topics include diabetes, weight management, smoking cessation, heart health, asthma, pain management and advance care planning – all with a goal of empowering you to better manage your health. Most classes are free. For information call 916-734-0718 or visit livinghealthy.ucdavis.edu.

Patients who have established outpatient care with any UC Davis physician can use MyChart® (Epic Systems Corporation). The free web-based system allows you to communicate with your care team, request appointments or refills, access medical records, view billing statements and make payment on your bills. MyChart® is not available during your hospital stay.